When You're the Best of Friends

I'm so happy I was able to get a picture of the two of them together! I really love the cheetah/dog companion program that the Zoo and Safari Park have; it's so fun to watch them interact with each other.

But why in the world is a dog hanging out with a cheetah? According to San Diego Zoo, "Cheetahs selected to be trained as Zoo and Safari Park ambassadors are paired with a domestic dog. Why? Dogs are naturally comfortable with people, even those they don’t know. Cheetahs are quite a bit more cautious and wary of new situations; having a dog buddy who can show them that everything is okay—and even fun—helps the cat feel comfortable and relaxed. The dog’s body language communicates that there’s nothing to fear, and that relaxes and calms the flight tendencies of the cheetah."
So the two are normally introduced at a young age and become best buddies!

 A group of cheetahs is called a coalition. 

Species: Male South African Cheetah - Bakka
Female Husky-Mix Dog - Miley
Location: San Diego Zoo, CA
Taken: 7.8.2016